Tag Archives: Tropical

Sometimes inspiration strikes from the immersion of living in a faraway place. Sometimes, inspiration stems from a place that everyone can relate to, but maybe no one’s actually been. This is the music of The Hip Abduction, the vibrant St. Petersburg, FL-based collective that formed over a mutual appreciation for West African and early Jamaican reggae/dub music.

The Hip Abduction began through informal jam sessions and quickly coalesced into a sound that attracted national attention. For Gold Under the Glow, the band’s 2016 third full album release, THA engage an indie pop acumen alongside a highly emotive and roots-driven sound.

wasted on a generation fighting for peace, but I’m just now wise enough to see the truth

The inspiration for these lines came from reflecting on society. Lucas croons his way through bold statements on how to deal while LYOD layers his warm and playful instrumentals. “Run Away” creates a getaway all on its own.

Like this:

Sydney producer HOUNDED is back on the grid with a sunshine-filled track called “On My Side” and it arrives just in time to defrost us from all those winter chills.

Right from the first chime you’ll be grooving and your shoulders will be bopping while the fluttery voice of Brisbane artist Savoi makes this track all the more uplifting, and all you wanna do is dance and smile.

“I had a difficult time finding vocals that matched the energy of the song. I was fortunate enough to be in the studio with Savoi late last year and his voice just seems to fit perfectly with the instrumental. I find that Savoi’s voice really compliments my style and gives it that extra sense of movement and energy” – HOUNDED

Drawing on a love of Afrobeat, blazing horns, electronic beats and soul, Daybreak is a cultural feast for the ears and mind. Honoring a vast range of influences from Jamie xx, Fela Kuti, Hermitude, D’Angelo, Bonobo, and Fat Freddy’s Drop, Klue delivers on recent editorial predictions dubbing him as an ‘Artist to Watch’ in 2016.

“The Soul and Southern African tunes were on living room rotation as a kid and that definitely shaped me musically and how I create. Having developed my production skills in the hip hop and electronic world, I feel like this is record is the first time I’ve managed to bring all of these influences together in a cohesive way, and in a way that really feels right.” – Klue

Written in part, while touring Africa with his band True Vibenation, Daybreak encompasses some of the spirit of the trip. Specifically working with a variety of musicians, be it professionals backstage at a gig, amateurs, even a barber shop group he jammed with on the street. All those moments helped to influence the overall sound of the EP.

“When I got back from Africa I got to work turning some ideas and drafts into what could possibly be a solid record. During this time I was surrounded by great people and was having a really good time. I had some pretty incredible nights out, and I was catching my fair share of sunrises too” – Klue

The Daybreak EP turned out to be quite a huge process for Klue as he set out to do almost everything himself; he wrote, played, recorded and mixed everything on the EP, aside from the trumpet in “Hiding” which was done by his True Vibenation band-mate Moody, and the mastering which was handled by Sameer Sengupta. In the end, Klue had a four-track collection of tunes that he was really proud of, and couldn’t wait to share with the rest us.

“Daybreak is a pretty remarkable part of the day (whether it’s the beginning or the end of your day), and the process of making my first solo record definitely felt like a beginning, and so that’s pretty much where the ep’s title came from” – Klue

Daybreak EP is available now through etcetc music, and Australian fans can catch Klue as he tours around the country throughout May/June, which also includes a few co-headlining shows with Ribongia in Wollongong, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle.

Klue will then be heading to Europe in late-June to perform at Glastonbury Festival with his band True Vibenation, and you can rest-assured that there will be a few impromptu Klue shows and after-parties happening throughout Europe during that time.

“No Answer” is the new single from Melbourne electronic duo Back Back Forward Punch (aka BBFP), and it is also just the first taste of what we can expect from their upcoming debut EP.

Written and recorded in their home studio in Melbourne’s inner-west, Andy Liddell and Laura Boland take us on another wonderful romp through their invigorating electronic soundscapes.

Andy creates a stunning tropical island backdrop with his seamlessly playful production, setting the scene for Laura’s lush vocals to take a gradual stroll down its sun-setting coastline. On the surface “No Answer” seems is like a ray of sunshine with its bouncy tropical beats, warm woody chords, and lush comforting vocals, but as you delve further into the tapestry of its sounds you begin to discover a world of turmoil and sadness.

It’s a song about trying to find an ending amongst indecisiveness, not really knowing what to say when there’s no words left to use.

“When we started writing No Answer, the sounds were light and tropical and fun, but as the vocals and lyrics developed, we realised this song had some dark undertones. If No Answer was a postcard it would picture a tropical island with a storm rolling in, and on the back it would be blank” – BBFP

“No Answer” is available to download for free via BBFP’s Soundcloud, but only until its official release on June 18. We can also expect a few more singles from BBFP over the coming months in the lead-up to their debut EP.

A native of France and French house pioneer, Falke has defined a signature sound bridging electronic and pop styles garnering acclaim through notable reworks of and remixes of mainstream acts including Katy Perry and Lana Del Rey. His remix of Pompeya’s “90” hits hard across nu-disco and funk while showcasing his skill in channeling the essence of the original into a polished remix that stands confidently on its own.

With roots firmly established in their Russian homeland including extensive touring and TV appearances, Pompeya are broadening their reach to the U.S. and beyond with their distinct blend of 70s disco, 80s New Wave, and 90s indie rock. Recently, the band’s debut album Tropical received praise across influential outlets including Under The Radar Mag, MTV Hive, Interview Mag, Earmilk, and DUMMY Mag.

Last month I posted the video for “Slaver” from the band Pompeya. Now, the US full-length debut is available! Tropical is an ode to 70s disco and 80s new wave in a sound that is pop music in its finest form. The Moscow-based group has seen “Power”, “90”, and “Slaver” as the record’s first singles, each accompanied by all new music videos. The LP will be paired with a remix EP, which features contributions from Psychemagik, Fred Falke, Jimmy Edgar, and more. The official Remix EP will be included as a free download for those that purchase the 12” special edition double vinyl, and will be released officially in December 2013.

Pompeya is about a month away from releasing Tropical, their first LP in America out on October 29th via No Shame. Today, the band is putting out the single for the third track on the album, “90“, and a music video for the song “Slaver“. While both tracks feature the signature Pompeya groove, they each have their own distinct flavor, showing off the consistency and versatility of the band’s songwriting abilities.

MTV Hive had this to say: “Slaver”, the first single and opening track off ‘Tropical’, is a supreme debut into the celestial world that is Pompeya. With a clear knack for arrangement, the band merges lush synths with spiraling guitars and a rhythm section bringing relentless, heavy funk.“ Click here for the full feature.